Privacy Policy

Gather Memories ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data with care and respect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you use our memorial photo wall service.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, and funeral home business details when you create an account.
• Memorial Content: Names and details of deceased individuals, photographs, and other content uploaded to memorial pages.
• Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through our payment provider. We do not store complete credit card numbers.
• Communications: Information you provide when contacting our support team.

Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, and interactions with our service.
• Log Data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our memorial services
• Process transactions and send related information
• Enable photo sharing and moderation features
• Generate and display memorial slideshows
• Respond to your comments, questions, and support requests
• Send service-related notices and updates
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues or abuse

3. Memorial Content and Deceased Individuals

We understand the sensitive nature of memorial content. Information about deceased individuals is handled with the utmost respect and is used solely for the purpose of creating and maintaining memorial pages. This content is:

• Accessible only to those with the memorial link (unless made public by the creator)
• Subject to moderation controls set by the funeral home
• Stored securely and retained according to the memorial plan selected
• Never used for marketing or advertising purposes

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with:

• Service Providers: Third parties who assist in operating our service, including cloud hosting (Google Cloud), analytics (Google Analytics), session recording (Microsoft Clarity), and payment processing.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with continued protection of your data.

5. Third-Party Services

Our service uses the following third-party providers:

• Google Cloud: Secure cloud infrastructure and storage
• Google Analytics: Website analytics and usage patterns
• Microsoft Clarity: Session recordings and heatmaps to improve user experience

Each provider has their own privacy policy governing their use of data. We encourage you to review their policies.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information based on your service plan:

• Per-Memorial Plan: Memorial content is retained for one year after the service date, after which families may download an archive.
• Monthly/Enterprise Plans: Memorial content is retained indefinitely while the account remains active.
• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward for legal and business purposes.

You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us. We will process deletion requests within 30 days, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Secure cloud infrastructure with access controls
• Regular security assessments and monitoring
• Employee access limited to those who need it

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Export your data in a portable format
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@gathermemories.com.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in to your account
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze how our service is used
• Improve our service based on usage patterns

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some features of our service.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is intended for use by funeral homes and adults arranging memorial services. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Memorial content may include photographs of children as part of family memories, which is managed by the memorial creator.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States where our servers are located. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or by posting a notice on our website. Your continued use of our service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: